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شوال 27, 1433 | SOI General: Headquarters

Three Hundred Volunteers

By Will Schermerhorn

Some of the 300 volunteers posed for a photo

The World Aquatics event needed volunteers to meet and accompany the swimmers to their events and take them back. Volunteers served lunches, provided water, ran the awards ceremonies, assisted with the opening ceremony, worked in the athlete waiting area, helped at start and finish locations and helped out when needed in the bathrooms. Bruni Varona, a youth officer with the Municipality of San Juan, organized the 300 volunteers. It was easy to find so many, she said, partly because Special Olympics had a big event in San Juan two years ago. The volunteers are high school and college students and teachers. Two days before the event started, the volunteers all gathered for hours of training and practice. "It's a wonderful experience. It's a unique experience," Bruni said.

About Will Schermerhorn: Will is Special OLympics' director of web products